NovelEndChapter 838
When he finished, | found myself curling even fighter. Hayden shifted closer, his hand brushing mine. "Are you
scared of what I've told you so far?"
The truth was, not really. So far, it was just a rundown of shady deals and insane tests he'd endured. But my
mind had already spun it into something straight out of an undercover spy movie-life-or-death situations,
Impossible choices, brutal sacrifices, "Hayden," | whispered, cutting off my own spiraling thoughts. "Hold me."
He hesitated, his grip on my hand firin but cautious, like he wasn't sure if I'd pull away again.
I didn't. Instead, | leaned forward, wrapping my arms around him,
His chin cto rest lightly on the top of my head, that small, familiar gesture unraveling the doubts still
clinging to me. This wasn't Xander, wasn't sstranger. This was Hayden. My Hayden.
Without thinking, my hands slid under his shirt, gliding along his waist.
"Kiki," he said, his voice tight, "there are no injuries."
| kept going. "Letsee for myself."
"Are you sure?" His lips twitched like he was holding back.
"Yes, I'm sure," | said flatly. | mean, | was pregnant-he wouldn't dare try anything sketchy now.
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"Still bossy," he murmured, his tone indulgent. Then, with one smooth motion, he pulled his shirt off.
I blinked.
Every nerve in my body short-circuited at the sight of him-the sculpted muscles, the sharp lines of his abs. For a
second, | just stared, completely forgetting why I'd asked him to take it off in the first place. "Weren't you
checking for injuries?" he teased, his soft laughter snappingback to reality.
7. $s
Heat rushed to my face. "lI am!"
My hands moved over his skin, careful and focused. No fresh cuts, no bruises-nothing but the old scars | already
knew. He really hadn't lied.
"You're incredible," | said, exhaling in relief. "Whatever you've been through... | can't even imagine. It's like
something out of an action movie."
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Chapter 838
Without realizing it, my hand brushed his abs again, the memory hittinghard. Back when we used to fall
asleep together, my hand would always end up resting on his stomach, like it was the only way | could settle It
had been so long since I'd felt this.
Hayden didn't pushaway. He just sat there, lettingtouch him, lettingtake my time.
The silence grew, but it wasn't heavy. If anything, it felt peaceful, like we'd both finally found something we'd
thought was gone.
Then he pulledinto another hug, his arms tight around me. "I thought you wouldn't recognize me," he
admitted. "Figured you'd chaseout."
Hayden had caughttotally off guard by showing up out of nowhere. I'd sworn a million times that if | ever
saw him again, I'd punch him. But when the moment came? | just couldn't do it.
Even with all the tension hanging between us, lashing out felt pointless.
Maybe I'd grown up. Maybe I'd finally learned not to let my emotions run the show.
"You sound disappointed," | teased, poking him lightly. "Wantto make up for it?"
"We'll keep a tab and settle it later." His tone was light.
But my smile faded as | straightened, my voice serious. "Hayden, if Lena doesn't cback, or if anything
happens to her, | won't forgive you. | don't care what your reasons were for taking her." | needed him to
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmunderstand there was no wiggle room here.
Earlier, he'd explained it was a strategic move
something about needing Aaron's
influence to pull off his plan. He admitted Aaron's help was the only reason he'd made it back so quickly.
"| get it," Hayden said softly. He pressed a kiss to my forehead, his hand resting gently over my stomach.
ork
The call cin the middle of the night, joltingawake. The second | saw Lena's non the screen, sleep
was a distant memory. "Lena!"
"Did | wake you and my godchild?" she teased.
"This is the best interruption of my life," I said, laughing as tension melted from my body.
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"Really? | figured with Hayden there, you'd be too busy enjoying your little 'love paradise’
to care about my call," she quipped.
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